Display sign structure

ABSTRACT

A sign arrangement including a sign support structure having upper and lower outwardly extending sign support arms each having an outer diagonally upwardly extending tapered end bar portion and a sign having complementary upper and lower inwardly and upwardly extending tapered bar receiving slots received in the tapered end portions and lock means in the form of key slots in the lower base portion of the upper bar receiving slots and a key lock member inserted in the key lock slots and abutting against the lower edge of the upper arm in preventing removal of the sign from the sign support structure.

United States Patent [191 Delaquila et al.

[ Jan. 22, 1974 DISPLAY SIGN STRUCTURE [73] Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, St. Paul, Minn.

[22] Filed: May 19, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 144,795

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/1940 Wagner 40/140 10/1941 Wagner Sheldon 40/142 2,607,146 8/1952 Wagner 40/143 3,274,719 9/1966 Schubert 40/142 1,542,882 6/1925 Hoffman et a1 52/510 Primary Examiner-Robert W. Michell Assistant Examiner--M. Cy Mui Attorney, Agent, or FirmRichard J. Myers [57] ABSTRACT A sign arrangement including a sign support structure having upper and lower outwardly extending sign support arms each having an outer diagonally upwardly extending tapered end bar portion and a sign having complementary upper and lower inwardly and upwardly extending tapered bar receiving slots received in the tapered end portions and lock means in the form of key slots in the lower base portion of the upper bar receiving slots and a key lock member inserted in the key lock slots and abutting against the lower edge of the upper arm in preventing removal of the sign from the sign support structure.

6 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PAIENIEUJmmm 3,786,585.

INVENTORS GARY DELAQUILA JOHN R. BERCIER FIG.2 BY M Q W {ATTORNEY DISPLAY SIGN STRUCTURE SUMMARY This invention relates to display sign structures and mounting means therefor.

It is a general object of this invention to provide for a sign or other indicia and sign or indicia mounting structure arrangement which easily, quickly and safely locks the sign to the sign structure.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel sign lock arrangement that may be incorporated into either existing or new sign and sign mounting arrangements.

Still another object of this invention is to provide in the combination of a sign and its locking structure a locking key or bar which is held by the sign in a key slot arrangement and engages the sign mounting structure in such a fashion as to prevent removal of the sign from its mounting structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING FIG. 1 is an upright perspective view of the sign arrangement;

FIG. 2 is aside elevational view of the sign arrangement with parts in section and illustrating the interlock means between the sign support structure and the sign; and

FIG. 3 is a modified form of support structure and interlock for the sign arrangement.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With reference now to the drawings and in particular FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown one embodiment of changeable sign or other indicia arrangement 1 which includes a support structure or fabricated background 2 on which is mounted a removable indicia in the form of sign 3 which is the letter I. The wall or background structure 2 has a pair of upper and lower spaced apart elongated horizontally extending support arm means 5 and 6 respectively that project outwardly and upwardly on a diagonal line from the flat background board part. Each support arm 5 or 6 includes a vertically extending base portion or abutment portion 7 for the side walls of the sign 3 and an upward diagonally outwardly extending elongated arm member which has a tapered end portion 9 including an upper tapered surface 9a, a tip end or surface 9b and a lower tapered surface 90.

The juncture of the upper arm support portion 8 and the vertical base 7 is defined by an under surface 10. The sign 3 has an outwardly facing wall 11 and inwardly directed side walls or flanges 12. Each flange 12 is provided with a tapered sign slot 13 having an outer diagonal edge 13a and an inner longer diagonal edge 13c joined by a top edge 13b. Below and adjoining with the tapered slot 13 is an interlock or rectangular lock slot or keyway 15 in each flange 12 which receives an elongated horizontally extending key or interlock means 16. The rectangular key slot is defined by a vertical back edge and upper and lower edges 15a and 15b. The key member or rectangular bar 16 defines with the key slot 15 the interlock or lock means 14. The upper surface of the bar 16 engages the under surface and vertical base 7 of the upper support arm means 5 engages the back side of the bar 16 so that the entry of the bar 16 in the slot 13 in conjunction with the upper tapered end portion 9 in the tapered slot 13 prevents the sign from leaving the support members 5 and 6. The lock bar 16 is inserted in the slot 15 after the letter is hung on the upper portions 8 of the support arms 5 and 6.

A modification is shown in FIG. 3 where the sign support structure 2' carries a sign 3' which has a sign slot 13' and a round key slot 15' having upper and lower surfaces or edges 15a and l5b. A round elongated rod or key 16' is received in the upper and lower edges l5a and ll5'b and also engages the support arm under surface or under ledge to prevent removal of the sign 3 from its support wall or background structure 4'.

Thus, what is presented is a novel arrangement of key and key lock slot disposed underneath the tapered slot of the upper sign support arm whereby the sign is prevented from moving vertically or horizontally from its upper and lower support slots on the support arms.

The foregoing description and drawings merely explain and illustrate the invention and the invention is not limited thereto, except insofar as the appended claims are so limited, as those skilled in the art who have the disclosure before them will be able to make modifications and variations therein without departing from the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A sign arrangement including:

a sign support background structure having support arm means located thereon,

Said arm means including an upwardly and outwardly diagonally extending sign support arm and a downwardly extending base lower arm and a substantially horizontal shoulder undersurface defining a groove formed on the outside of the arm means between the upper arm and the lower arm,

a sign having an upwardly and inwardly complementary arm receiving upper slot on the back surface thereof receiving the upper arm and a lower substantially horizontal key slot intersecting the upper key slot in the back surface of the sign, the key slot being in key receiving alignment with the groove,

an abutment sign surface on the back of the sign spaced below the key slot and engageable with the lower arm, and

a removable lock key inserted in the groove and the key slot in wedging the upper arm in the upper slot and the lower arm against the abutment sign surface for holding the sign in a generally upright position and preventing tilting movement of the sign with respect to the background structure while holding the sign spaced from the background sturcture.

2. The invention according to claim 1, and

said diagonally extending support arm moving a tapered end portion and said upper slot being tapered for reception of the tapered end portion.

3. The invention according to claim 1, and

said support means including a second support arm being spaced vertically from said first mentioned support arm,

said sign having a second upper slot being spaced vertically from said first mentioned upper slot and complementally receiving said second arm.

4. The invention according to claim 1, and

said arm means being horizontally elongated and said lock key being an elongated key member and said sign including a pair of horizontally spaced vertically extending side walls each having an aforementioned upper slot and an aforementioned key angular key slot for reception of the elongated bar. slot for coupling with the arm and elongated key 6. The invention according to claim 1, and member in several places. said key slot being an arcuate slot and said lock key 5. The invention according to claim 1, and including an elongated generally round member said lock key including an elongated generally rect- 5 receivable in said arcuate slot.

angular bar and said key slot being a generally rect- 

1. A sign arrangement including: a sign support background structure having support arm means located thereon, said arm means including an upwardly and outwardly diagonally extending sign support arm and a downwardly extending base lower arm and a substantially horizontal shoulder undersurface defining a groove formed on the outside of the arm means between the upper arm and the lower arm, a sign having an upwardly and inwardly complementary arm receiving upper slot on the back surface thereof receiving the upper arm and a lower substantially horizontal key slot intersecting the upper key slot in the back surface of the sign, the key slot being in key receiving alignment with the groove, an abutment sign surface on the back of the sign spaced below the key slot and engageable with the lower arm, and a removable lock key inserted in the groove and the key slot in wedging the upper arm in the upper slot and the lower arm against the abutment sign surface for holding the sign in a generally upright position and preventing tilting movement of the sign with respect to the background structure while holding the sign spaced from the background sturcture.
 2. The invention according to claim 1, and said diagonally extending support arm moving a tapered end portion and said upper slot being tapered for reception of the tapered end portion.
 3. The invention according to claim 1, and said support means including a second support arm being spaced vertically from said first mentioned support arm, said sign having a second upper slot being spaced vertically from said first mentioned upper slot and complementally receiving said second arm.
 4. The invention according to claim 1, and said arm means being horizontally elongated and said lock key being an elongated key member and said sign including a pair of horizontally spaced vertically extending side walls each having an aforementioned upper slot and an aforementioned key slot for coupling with the arm and elongated key member in several places.
 5. The invention according to claim 1, and said lock key including an elongated generally rectangular bar and said key slot being a generally rectangular key slot for reception of the elongated bar.
 6. The invention accordIng to claim 1, and said key slot being an arcuate slot and said lock key including an elongated generally round member receivable in said arcuate slot. 